U.S. patent number 7,257,472 [Application Number 10/808,601] was granted by the patent office on 2007-08-14 for method and apparatus for fault diagnosis.
This patent grant is currently assigned to DaimlerChrysler AG. Invention is credited to Wolfgang Hauer, Robert Newberry.
United States Patent |
7,257,472 |
Hauer , et al. |
August 14, 2007 |
Method and apparatus for fault diagnosis
Abstract
A data protocol converter has two interfaces, one of which can
be connected to a standard vehicle diagnostic interface, and the
other permitting wireless message transfer using a diagnostic
handset. A data protocol translator converts the messages from the
standard vehicle diagnostic interface into messages having a
wireless data format, so that they can be received in the
diagnostic handset using the latter's wireless interface. The data
protocol converter has a further interface so that it can be
connected to a second standard diagnostic interface according to a
different standard. The data protocol translator can convert the
messages from the second standard vehicle diagnostic interface into
messages having a wireless data format.
Inventors: |
Hauer; Wolfgang (Goeppingen,
DE), Newberry; Robert (Filderstadt, DE) |
Assignee: |
DaimlerChrysler AG (Stuttgart,
DE)
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Family
ID: |
32946170 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/808,601 |
Filed: |
March 25, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20040249526 A1 |
Dec 9, 2004 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 26, 2003 [DE] |
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103 13 467 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
701/32.7;
340/438; 701/33.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08C
17/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
19/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;701/29,33
;340/438,439 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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43 34 859 |
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Oct 1993 |
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DE |
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42 30 796 |
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Mar 1994 |
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DE |
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44 46 512 |
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Dec 1994 |
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DE |
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195 41 816 |
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Nov 1995 |
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DE |
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199 21 846 |
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May 1999 |
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DE |
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Primary Examiner: Chin; Gary
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Crowell & Moring LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for performing at least one of fault diagnosis and
control information reprogramming in a vehicle control unit having
messages stored in a memory area that are transferable to a
diagnostic handset that is operable within a range of 100 m around
a vehicle, comprising: selecting particular messages from a total
set of said messages stored in the memory area, transferring the
particular messages from the memory area over any of a plurality of
different vehicle data buses having a plurality of different
message protocols to a data protocol converter, converting the
particular messages from one of said message protocols, unknown to
the diagnostic handset, into a data format for subsequent transfer
to the diagnostic handset via a wireless interface using the data
protocol converter, outputting particular data, including any of
software for improved vehicle component operation, parameters for
improved vehicle component operation, and a vehicle hardware
description relating to a configuration of reconfigurable vehicle
hardware, with the diagnostic handset, obtaining the fault
diagnosis from said diagnostic handset when said fault diagnosis is
performed, and transferring said particular data directly from the
diagnostic handset to the data protocol converter via the wireless
interface, converting the particular data received from the
diagnostic handset into said one of said message protocols
permitting transfer of the particular data over any of a plurality
of different vehicle data busses, and transferring the particular
data to the control unit over one of said plurality of different
vehicle data buses when said control information reprogramming is
performed.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said wireless interface
is made according to the Bluetooth standard.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one of said
message protocols is for a J1850 data bus or CAN data bus.
4. A data protocol converter for use in the method of claim 1,
comprising: a first interface that is connectable to a standard
vehicle diagnostic interface, and a second interface that is
adapted to permit wireless message transfer via said diagnostic
handset.
5. The data protocol converter according to claim 4, wherein the
wireless message transfer is made via the Bluetooth standard, so
that the diagnostic data can be displayed on a portable
computer.
6. The data protocol converter according to claim 4, wherein the
data protocol converter permits transfer of messages from the
diagnostic handset to the vehicle.
7. The data protocol converter according to claim 4, further
comprising interfaces to a CAN data bus and to a J1850 data
bus.
8. The data protocol converter according to claim 4, wherein the
data protocol converter can be retrofitted as an adapter to allow
data transfer from the control unit to the diagnostic handset and
from one data bus to a further data bus.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This application claims the priority of German patent document 103
13 467.0, filed Mar. 26, 2003 the disclosure of which is expressly
incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a method for fault diagnosis and
reprogramming control information in a control unit for a
vehicle.
In a control unit of the type referred to, messages stored in a
memory area are transferred via an interface to a diagnostic unit
which can be operated within the range of 100 meters around the
vehicle. Particular messages are selected from the total set of
messages, and diagnostic information is created for components of
the vehicle based thereon. The messages are transferred to the
diagnostic handset, which can be moved independently of the
vehicle, via a wireless interface. The invention also relates to a
data protocol converter which is required for this method and has
two interfaces. One interface can be connected to a standard
diagnostic interface in the vehicle according to a first standard,
and the second interface permits wireless message transfer using a
diagnostic handset.
In conventional cable-oriented diagnostic methods, the diagnostic
computer is plugged onto a standard diagnostic interface on the
vehicle, so that diagnostic codes and data bus information can be
read out on a portable computer. The user can display, for example,
the bus activity or the data bus communication between the
different control units. Today, it is also possible to use the
wired standard diagnostic interfaces to transfer parameters to a
memory area in a control unit, for example in order to readjust the
injection times in the vehicles. German patent document DE 195 41
816 A1 discloses an example of a conventional diagnostic system
which is coupled to a vehicle via a wired interface in order to
read out diagnostic data.
In addition, diagnostic methods for vehicles are known in which
diagnostic data are transferred from the vehicle to a service
station using a wireless interface (for example a mobile telephone
interface). In contrast to the conventional diagnostic methods for
vehicles in which a computer is plugged onto the engine or onto
various control units using cables, in this case the diagnostic
data are transferred to the diagnostic computer wirelessly. (Such
diagnostic methods are also referred to as remote diagnosis.)
German patent document DE 44 46 512 A1 discloses an apparatus for
performing a vehicle test and for evaluating vehicle faults. Using
a conventional mobile radio telephone to send fault reports or
failure reports, a diagnosis is created for the vehicle. It is also
possible to receive data from the vehicle using the mobile radio
part, in order to transfer control information for correcting
faults to the control unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,485 B1 discloses a method and apparatus for
diagnosis in an electrical vehicle control system, in which an
evaluation and programming station is provided in the form of a
programmable, portable computer. This base station has a wireless
network diagnostic interface which can also be used to program the
vehicle. If the vehicle is brought into close range of the test
environment, a wireless network is set up between the portable
diagnostic computer and the vehicle permitting wireless diagnosis
and reprogramming of the vehicle. In the known system, diagnostic
data and programming data for the vehicles are transferred using
the wireless interface of a base station provided specifically in
the vehicle. One problem of the disclosed system is that every
vehicle needs to be reequipped with the base station in order to
permit the wireless diagnosis.
German patent document DE 43 34 859 A1 discloses a device for
testing and programming electronic control units in a motor
vehicle. The device for testing and programming electronic control
units is in the form of a wireless diagnostic unit which, instead
of the wireless access key for the vehicle, communicates with a
transceiver unit in the lock system, and thereby transfers
diagnostic and programming data to the central control unit in the
vehicle.
German patent document DE 199 21 846 A1 exhibits a portable test
unit having a modem. The portable test unit can be coupled to a
wireless interface using a mobile radio, and can use the latter to
receive diagnostic fault codes from the vehicle. The diagnostic
test apparatus with the portable test unit stores the fault codes
and uses the mobile telephone to transfer the fault diagnosis to a
workshop, which is independent of the vehicle, for the purpose of
fault correction. The diagnostic apparatus can be connected to a
test unit in the vehicle using a diagnostic/test connector in the
motor vehicle. This diagnostic unit is fitted on the vehicle and
uses its mobile telephone device to transfer the diagnostic data to
an external service station, which may be many kilometers away from
the vehicle.
One object of the present invention is to provide a diagnostic
method and a data protocol converter which can be used therein,
thus simplifying diagnosis within a workshop in the relatively
close surroundings of the vehicle. In particular, the aim is to
allow diagnosis to be used in vehicles, which have different
vehicle data buses, without the need to provide a separate
diagnostic unit or a new diagnostic interface for every diagnostic
environment.
These and other objects and advantages are achieved by the method
and apparatus according to the invention, in which the data
transferred to the vehicle provide a piece of software for improved
operation of individual components in the vehicle, parameters for
fault-free operation of components, or a hardware description
relating to the hardware configuration of reconfigurable hardware.
Reconfigurable hardware refers, for example, to "FPGAs" (Field
Programmable Gate Arrays). The software, the parameters or the
hardware description are transferred from the diagnostic handset
directly to the vehicle using the wireless interface, and the
messages are converted in the data protocol converter into a first
message protocol (for example, a CAN data bus protocol), and also
into the message protocol for another vehicle data bus. The other
message protocol may relate to a FlexRay, MOST, CAN, Firewire or
J1850 data bus.
The method according to the invention for fault diagnosis in a
control unit involves the use of a data protocol converter which
can send and receive first a message protocol for a first vehicle
data bus and second message protocol for a second vehicle data bus.
This means that it is possible first to use the fault diagnosis
method with a European (for example, German) diagnostic standard.
In addition, because the interface has the further message
protocol, the portable diagnostic unit can be used on a standard
vehicle diagnostic interface with a non-European standard. The data
protocol converter according to the present invention can be used
to save considerable costs, since it is not necessary to produce a
dedicated diagnostic unit for every type of transport means. The
diagnostic unit is coupled to the data protocol converter using a
wireless interface (for example, according to the Bluetooth
standard), and the diagnostic or programming data are
simultaneously converted in the data protocol converter into two
different message protocols for different vehicle data buses. The
data protocol converter can be coupled by its two interfaces to the
standard diagnostic vehicle interfaces of the data buses as
required.
In the method according to the invention for fault diagnosis, the
data protocol converter is used more or less as an adapter which,
during a diagnosis, is simply plugged onto the standard vehicle
diagnostic interface, and the wireless transceiver unit is then
used to transfer the diagnostic data and the reprogramming data to
and from the diagnostic unit.
The data protocol converter can also have a third interface for a
message protocol for a vehicle data bus, so that it can be coupled
to a third standard diagnostic interface in a vehicle. By way of
example, for European use, the diagnostic data may be output using
a message protocol for the CAN data bus, while the data protocol
converter uses a message protocol for the J1850 data bus when an
American standard diagnostic interface is being used. The third
message protocol can be implemented according to the data bus
standard for an Asian transport-means data bus. The use of the data
protocol converter according to the invention allows various
diagnostic data to be translated in accordance with a national
standard, such that the diagnostic handset is able to receive
diagnostic data, and the reprogramming data for the vehicle control
unit are also transferred to the appropriate message protocol for
the transport-means data bus used.
It is also possible to simulate a message protocol for a data bus
system according to an old standard using the data protocol
converter, so that it is possible to diagnose even relatively old
vehicles using the standard diagnostic interface if the workshops
now no longer have a suitable diagnostic unit.
In one embodiment of the invention, the data protocol converter has
at least two interfaces, including one that can be connected to a
standard diagnostic interface in a vehicle according to a national,
or old standard, and a second interface which permits wireless
message transfer using a diagnostic handset. The data protocol
converter has a data protocol translator which converts messages
from the standard diagnostic interface in the vehicle into messages
having a wireless data format, so that the messages can be received
in the diagnostic handset using the latter's wireless interface.
The data protocol converter has a further interface so that it can
be connected to a second standard diagnostic interface according to
a different standard. The data protocol translator converts the
messages from the second standard vehicle diagnostic interface into
messages having a wireless data format.
A typical diagnostic unit allows workshop personnel to read the
diagnostic codes from vehicle control units. Particularly in a
workshop or on an assembly line, the wireless interface allows the
portable diagnostic unit of the present invention to be used
particularly well up to a range of approximately 100 meters. The
diagnostic unit can be used to monitor bus activities and
communication between different nodes (i.e., control units) via a
data bus system. The control unit software is reprogrammed to
correct diagnosed faults by transferring software to a flash memory
in a control unit. To this end, the data are transferred to the
control unit's flash memory via the data protocol converter and the
diagnostic interface in the control unit.
The data protocol converter of the present invention allows
workshop personnel to access vehicles with a CAN data bus, and to
access vehicles with the J1850 data bus, as well. In this case, the
same diagnostic handset can be used to work with the wireless
interface when a vehicle according to either the American or German
standard is being used. It is not necessary to change the
diagnostic handset in this instance; rather a data protocol
converter is simply plugged onto the respective standard diagnostic
interface as an adapter. The diagnostic handset has a graphical
user interface and an input unit which the user of the diagnostic
handset can use to control the diagnostic unit.
In another embodiment of the invention, the data protocol converter
has a wireless interface (particularly according to the Bluetooth
standard), so that the diagnostic data can be displayed on a
portable computer that can be programmed specifically for this
purpose. The diagnostic protocol translator permits transfer of
messages from the diagnostic handset to the data bus in the
vehicle. In this case, the standard diagnostic interface accesses a
vehicle data bus, such as a CAN data bus or J1850 data bus.
The data protocol converter has a means for selecting the
diagnostic data within the message stream in the vehicle. In this
case, the means selects the necessary diagnostic data from the
various messages on the data bus and transfers them to the
diagnostic handset using the wireless interface. To reprogram the
control information in control units, both flash memories and FPGAs
(Field Programmable Gate Arrays), (i.e., reconfigurable hardware
modules) are provided within the control units. The software or the
hardware description is preferably stored in a memory in the
diagnostic handset and can be downloaded to a control unit using
the wireless interface when required. In this case, the software
for reprogramming can be transferred either to a CAN data bus or to
one of the other data bus systems using the data protocol
converter's interfaces.
Alternatively, the data protocol converter can be used without the
diagnostic handset for the purpose of translating the messages from
one vehicle data bus to the other vehicle data bus. This results in
a gateway module which can be coupled externally to the standard
diagnostic interfaces in the data bus systems and uses the
interfaces to output the respective data protocol for the vehicle
data bus system. It is also possible to use the data protocol
converter for bus monitoring, with the messages on the data bus
being monitored and being checked for a particular event.
If the data protocol converter is used as a gateway which is
coupled to the standard diagnostic interfaces in a data bus system,
the messages from the following data protocols can be translated
into a respective data protocol for another data bus system: RS232,
Bluetooth, CAN, K-Line and J1850 data formats, which are supported
by the data protocol translator. The data protocol converter can
preferably be configured for the different data protocols, so that,
for example, CAN messages are translated either to the J1850 format
or to the Bluetooth format. To this end, the data protocol
converter can be configured differently and the data are
transferred to the data bus via the standard diagnostic
interface.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of the invention when considered in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The single FIGURE of the drawing is a schematic overview of a
vehicle data bus system having a control unit and a data protocol
converter according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As shown in the figure, the vehicle data bus system includes a CAN
data bus 1, a J1850 data bus 2 and a K-Line data bus 3. A control
unit 4 is connected to one or more of these data buses 1-3, via the
respective interface 5, 6, 7. The control unit 4 preferably has a
flash memory 8 and, as reconfigurable hardware, an FPGA 9. An FPGA
module is a memory logic unit whose memory cells can be wired to
one another variably on the basis of a hardware description. The
FPGA module can be used to simulate all common hardware modules,
for example logic modules, microprocessors, interfaces, inter
alia.
On the one hand, the control unit 4 may be in the form of a
standard vehicle control unit, and hardwired only to the CAN bus 1.
On the other hand, the control unit 4 may also be in the form of a
gateway, so that a plurality of data buses are coupled to it,
particularly a J1850 bus 2 and a CAN bus 1. Provided on each data
bus 1, 2, 3 is a standard diagnostic interface 10, 11, 12, each
having a plug contact 13 to which arbitrary diagnostic units can be
coupled. In the normal vehicle driving state, these plug contacts
13 may be provided without an associated diagnostic unit or without
an associated data protocol converter 14.
When required (i.e., during a diagnosis), the data protocol
converter 14 can be coupled to the standard diagnostic interfaces
10-12 using its plug contacts 13 and can also be wired directly to
the control unit 4 using a JTAG interface 15. Coupled to the data
protocol converter 14 using a wireless interface 16 is a diagnostic
handset 17 which can display the detected diagnostic data and, if
appropriate, has a mobile radio interface 18 for coupling using a
mobile telephone.
The data protocol converter 14 is in the form of an adapter which
has a transceiver unit 19 for transferring wireless messages to and
from the diagnostic handset 17. The data protocol converter 14 also
has transceiver units for receiving messages from the various data
buses 1-3 using the standard diagnostic interfaces 10-12, and
converting them into the other data bus protocol. To this extent,
the data protocol converter 14 acts as a gateway bridge which can
translate messages in one particular data protocol into messages in
another data protocol, and is also able to select diagnostic data
from the various messages, so as to transfer it to the diagnostic
handset 17.
The diagnostic handset 17 has a display for displaying the
diagnostic data, and a memory for storing the diagnostic data and,
if appropriate, for providing reprogramming data for the control
unit 4 from an associated memory means. The reprogramming data are
then transferred to the data protocol converter 14 using the
wireless interface 16, and from there they are transferred to the
control unit 4 either i) using the JTAG interface 15 (which
corresponds to an American diagnostic standard), or ii) using
standard diagnostic interfaces 10-12 and then again using the
transceiver unit 5-7, to be stored in the flash memory in the
control unit 4 for the purpose of replacing the faulty software or
the superseded data.
The data protocol converter allows the use of a single diagnostic
handset 17 together with data buses 1-3 with various data
protocols. This is necessary when a diagnostic handset 17 is to be
used to request diagnostic data within vehicles that are of
different nationality (meaning, for example, that first a European
and second an American diagnostic standard is applied). The data
protocol converter 14 translates the various data protocols into a
message format which can be read by the diagnostic handset 17. In
addition, the reprogramming data from the diagnostic handset 17 are
converted by the data protocol converter 14 into a message format
which can be transferred to the control unit 4 using the different
data buses 1-3. The data protocol converter 14 is used to reprogram
the vehicle data bus system with the associated control units 4
using the respective data bus systems 1-3. In this case, it is
possible to reconfigure both the flash memory 8 and the FPGA 9.
The reprogramming information can be downloaded in the data
protocol converter 14 using the wireless interface 16 and can be
buffered-stored there as appropriate. The data protocol converter
14 can also be used without the diagnostic unit 17 for the purpose
of translating the various data bus messages and, in this case, can
be used as a plug-on gateway which is plugged onto the data bus
systems 1-3 using the standard diagnostic interfaces 10-12. The
data protocol converter can also be used to monitor sensors and
actuators, which are coupled directly to the data buses 1-3. In
this case, the data protocol converter 14 can also facilitate the
development of a sensor system for coupling to the data bus systems
1-3. In this context, diagnostic data can be read out and the
sensor equipment can be better matched to the data bus system 1-3
based on these data.
The diagnostic handset 17 allows vehicle diagnosis without
troublesome wiring to the data bus system. The user in the workshop
or on the assembly line can program a PDA as a diagnostic handset
17. The diagnostic handset 17 can use the data protocol converter
14 to convert the data as appropriate into a message format and can
transfer them to the control unit(s) 4 via the data bus system
1-3.
The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate
the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since
modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit
and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the
art, the invention should be construed to include everything within
the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *